Two themes echo throughout the readings: covenant and sacrifice.

The readings offer directions for proclaiming the presence of the Spirit in the church.

The Trinity presents a series of paradoxes. It is the central mystery of Christian faith, yet its power in Christian life gets lost amid a tangle of theological distinctions and philosophical speculation.

The first reading captures the meaning of today rsquo s liturgical celebration Matthias not one of the original followers of Jesus is chosen to be a witness to the resurrection From Easter to Pentecost all the readings in effect present different aspects of what it means to be such a witness The

The Gospel continues the exhortation to abide, simply stated: remain in my love.

The church, like the disciples, is not to stand looking at the sky but is to carry on Jesus’ mission to the ends of the earth.